Protection of Rights for 1.5 Crore Indians Working Abroad; Central Government to Introduce New Law

Overseas Mobility Bill, 2024: New Law to Protect the Rights of 1.5 Crore Indians Working Abroad

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is set to introduce a new law aimed at protecting the rights of 1.5 crore Indians employed overseas. This initiative comes under the Overseas Mobility (Facilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2024. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who chairs the Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs, presented a report on the matter in the Lok Sabha.

According to the committee's report, the ministry is seriously considering bringing in this bill. A draft version has already been shared with various ministries, and after receiving their feedback, it will be published for public opinion. The Ministry of External Affairs officially confirmed on Monday that they are carefully evaluating the introduction of the Overseas Mobility Bill, 2024.

Currently, around 1.5 crore Indian citizens, including unskilled workers, skilled workers, and professionals, are employed abroad. In August, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh stated in a written reply in the Lok Sabha that the government is preparing to introduce this law to safeguard their rights.